Pneumatically-actuated musical instrument.



A. PHILIPPS. PNEUMATICALLY AGTUAIED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1913.

1,080,164, a! Pagq l ted Dec. 2, 1913.

COLUMBIA Pumocruml CO-.WA$NINUTDN. o. c.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST PHILIPPS, OF FRANKFORTONTHE-MAIN, GERMANY? PNEUMATICALLY-ACTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 28, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST PHILIPPS, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Frankfort-on theMain,- Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatically- Actuated Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatically actuated musical instruments, and it has for its object to provide a mechanism whereby. two or more note sheets can be played from successively, practically without interruption, and the sheet last played from can be re-wound while the next is being played from. The purpose of this is to enable long pieces recorded on a succession of tune sheets to be played by operating with these sheets in succession, or to enable different instruments, such as a piano and an organ to pl ay. in a symphony for example, in which one is required to succeed the other without interruption. There are other purposes also for which a rapid chan e from one tune sheet to another is desirab .e.

This invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing two tune sheet mechanisms. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a controlling mechanism, and Fig. 3 shows both an end view and a plan of a form of tracker bar which may be used in place of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, a and a represent the frames of two sets of note sheet playing mechanisms, these frames being mounted on the instrument and provided with-separate driving mechanism. For this purpose levers g and g are provided each carrying a driving roller '11 which is driven in any suitable way, and is adapted to he moved up or down by its lever so as to drive either the wheel k of the takeup roll, or the wheel 1 which is to be driven for rewinding purposes. In the intermediate position the roller 91 is in engagement with neither wheel, and therefore runs free. Suitable spring catch devices m including the notched blocks such as m hold the levers g, g in each position. The arrangement of the levers and driving mech anism is seen in Fig. 2 in side view, the full Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 764,208.

lines showing the neutral position, while the dotted lines show the position for driving the winding-on roll.

It will be evident that the levers g' can be operated to throw out of action or to reverse the winding of one tune sheet mechanism, while throwing the winding mechanism of the other into action by means of the levers g, 9', without any appreciable interruption of the playing. It is not suilicient as a rule, however, merely to change over the driving of the two mechanisms when applied to the one playing instrument, but a device is required also for opening or cutting off the wind passages from the tracker bars. If tracker bars are used as indicated in Fig. 3, with a head part separate from the base, and the one part movable'longitudinally or transversely relatively to the other, such movement may be utilized for causing the channels to register or to be ;0 (only one is shown) having valves 71 therein which when in the position shown in Fig. 2, will close the suction opening and expose the pipe (f or f) to the atmosphere, or when raised will close the opening to the atmosphere and expose the pipes (f or f) to the suction. phragms e or e is drawn up by the suction, as indicated in dotted lines at c, the pipes d or d communicate with passages leading to a single set of pipes c which lead in turn to the playing pneumatics. The valves it may be directly connected for instance by wires n to the levers g and g. Then when either lever is raised to start the winding, its valve h is raised opening its pipe f or f to suction, whereby the diaphragms c or e are drawn up opening the one set of tracker bar pipes (Z or d to the operating mechanism When either set of diathrough the set of pipes 0, while the other set of pipes leading to the other tracker bar is cut ofi' by means of its diaphragms. In place of diaphragms e, 0' any equivalent devices may be used to serve the purpose of closing and opening the respective passages as required.

It will be understood that I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, but that certain modifications may be made of the arrangement shown and described herein without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I contemplate all such rearrangements and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a note sheet selecting mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instruments, the combination of a plurality of note sheet holders and winding mechanism with tracker bars, pivoted levers for controlling the operation of the winding mechanism, wheels mounted on said levers for driving the winding mechanism and apparatus with means for operating the same, whereby the tracker .bar passages are disconnected when their winding mechanism is stationary or is reversed.

2. In a note sheet selecting mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instruments, ,the combination of a plurality of note sheet holders and winding mechanism with tracker bars, pivoted levers for controlling the operation of the winding mechanism, wheels mounted ,on said levers for driving the winding mechanism and apparatus with means for ,operating the same, whereby the tracker bar passages are disconnected when their winding mechanism is stationary or is reversed, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers, pneumatic apparatus in connection with said chambers and with means for controlling same from the levers of the winding mechanism, and pneumatic means controlled by said pneumatic apparatus adapted to open and close the tracker bar passages.

3. In a note sheet selecting mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instruments, the combination of a plurality of note sheet holders and winding mechanisnTwith tracker bars levers for controlling the operation of the winding mechanism, and apparatus with means for operating the same, whereby the tracker bar passages are disconnected when their winding mechanism is stationary or is reversed, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers, one for each tracker bar, passages communicating with the tracker bar passages, diaphragms in the chambers adapted to close said passages, and pneumatic apparatus with means for controlling same from the levers aforesaid whereby one or other set of diaphragms may be caused to open its respective passages.

4. In a note sheet selecting mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instruments, the combination of a plurality of note sheet holders and winding mechanism with tracker bars, levers for controlling the operation of the winding mechanism, wheels mounted on said levers for driving the winding mechanism, and apparatus with means for operating the same, whereby the tracker bar passages are disconnected when their winding mechanism is stationary or is reversed, said apparatus comprising a plurality of chambers, one for each tracker bar, passages communicating with the tracker bar passage, diaphragms in the chambers adapted to close said passages, and-pneumatic apparatus with means for controlling the same from the levers aforesaid to cause one or the other set of diaphragms to open its respective passage.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST PHILIPPS.

Witnesses:

JEAN GRUND, CARL GRUND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

